Door-operating means.



1. e. wms. DOOR OPERATING MEANS.

1 APPLICATION -F|LED MAY l7| I916 1,%56,40%. Patented Feb.12, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

I. G. WAITS.

DOOR OPERATING MEANS.

APPLICATION min MAY 17, l9l6.

s SHEETSSHEET 2.

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Patented Feb.12,1918..

.l. G. WATTS.

DOOR OPERATING MEANS. APPLICATION FILED MAYII. 1916.

1,256,404. Patented Feb. 12,1918. e 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- JAY GOULD WATTS,OF CBICHTON, LOUISIANA.

DOOR-OPERATING MEANS.

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. Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 12, 1918.

Application filed may 17, 1916. Serial No. 98,158.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Jar G. WATTS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Crichton, in the county of Red River and State of Louisiana,have invented new and useful Improvements in Door-Operating Means, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a door operating mechanism primarily designedfor use in connection with a sliding door or the like.

The invention aims to providea mechanism of the above mentionedcharacter, embodying among other features a platform or the likedisposed in close proximit to the door and associated therewith in t emanner, to cause the said door to assume an open (position when theplatform is depresse together with means for automatically returning thedoor and the various parts of the mechanism to normal position, uponrelease of said platform.

With these and other objects in view which will appear from thefollowing description, as the latter is read in connection with theaccompanying drawings, the invention resides in the construction,combination and arrangement of parts as defined in the claims.

In the drawings forming part of this s ecification like numerals ofreference indicate similar parts in the several views and wherein IFigure 1 is a front elevation partly in section showing the door inclosed position.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the door in its open position.

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view.

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view of the drum.

Fig. 6 is a detail view of the platform.

Before entering into a detail description of what is herein shown, Idesire to have it understood that I do not limit myself to thisparticular construction, and that such changes may be resorted to whendesired as fall within the scope of what is claimed. It might further bestated that a door controlled by means of the invention may be usedeither up or downstairs in a building, and is also susceptible for useas a drive: way ate of the like, but in any instance the doorpsautomatically controlled in its movements in a manner to be hereinabovedescribed.

Upon reference to the drawin in detail A indicates the floor of abuilding, and B the wall provided with the usual door open- 1n C. Duringthe construction of the building, or in other words the wall B, a doorframe indicated at 10 is built between the partitions of the wall, andincludes parallel side members 11 and a connecting top piece 12. Thedoor 13 is supported upon the frame for sliding movement, for whichpurpose the top piece 12 is rovided with a guideway 14 through whic theupper portion of the door projects, the latter being provided withsuitable hangers 15 upon which is journaled a plurality of rollers 16adapted to rest upon and move from the upper surface of the top piece12. Of course one of the side members 11 is also slotted to permit ofthe door being opened, during wh1ch time the latter is moved within thespace between the partitions of the wall B. When the door is moved in anopposite direction the jamb thereof engages the opposite member 11 andnot only serves to limit the closing movement of the door but alsoprovides a tight joint between the parts. The frame 10 may beconstructed to accommodate one or more doors, one of which may be ascreen door, the doors being1 arranged one in advance of the other. W entwo doors are employed as herein illustrated, the to piece 12 of theframe is of course provi ed with spaced parallel guideways 14:.

: The floor A at a point in close proximity to the door, is providedwith an opening 17, which may be of any suitable dimensions, having theedges thereof beveled as at 18. Fitted within this opening and adaptedto lie flush with the surface of the floor is a platform, preferably inthe nature of an enlarged block 19. Depending fromthe block 19 is a rod20 slidably fitted in a bearing 21, and having its lower end operativelyasso ciated with the adjacent end of a horizontally disposed arm 22pivoted adjacent the end connected with the rod 20 upon the hearing 21.Dispomd a requisite distance to one side of the rod 20 is a base 23,from which rises spaced parallel standards 24 having journaled therein ahorizontally disposed shaft 25. Fixed upon the shaft 25 for rotationtherewith is a drum 26, and interposed between the heads 27 thereof is acircumferential series of spaced parallel pins 28 adapted to be engagedby the'teeth 29 of 7 one end of the arm 22, for the purpose of impartinga rotary movement to the drum in one direction when the arm 22 iselevated simultaneously with the depression of the platform 19. While itis herein specifically stated that the drum is provided with pins 28, itmay be provided with a toothed surface or otherwise constructed tocooperate with the arcuate shaped member 30 for the purpose mentioned.Secured to theouter side of each of the heads 27 of the drum, is

a pulley 31 over which is trained a continuous cable 32, the latterbeing secured to the drum. The cable has a portion thereof ex tendedtransversely above the frame 10, and is trained over a plurality ofguide pulleys 33 suitably arranged upon the frame, one lead of the cablebeing secured to the upper edge of the door so as to move the latter inopposite directions to either opened or closed position, when the drumis rotated in one or the other direction. The cable has its oppositeends connected by suitable detachable fastening means indicated at 34,to permit of the cable being used in connection with either of thepulleys 31 and connected with either one or the other of the doorsshown, It is to be understood of course that but one door is operated ata time, and the door not in use is moved to an opened position out ofthe way. The door is provided with any suitable form of lock or latchmechanism,

preferably key operated, which is mounted upon the frame 10.

In practice, when weight is placed upon the platform 19 therebydepressing thelatter, the arm 22 is moved about its fulcrum elevatingthe arcuate shaped member 30, which as above stated cotiperates with thedrum to partially rotate the latter, and through the medium of the cable32 the door is slid to an opened position. A suitable weight 35 issecured to one ofthe pulleys adjacent the periphery thereof, thusunbalancing the drum, so that when the pressure or weight is removedfrom the platform 19, the movement of the drum is automatically reversedthrough the medium of the weight 34, and the weight of the arm 22,whereupon the drum, arm 22, and platform 19 return to their normalposition. During this movement of the parts a pull on the cable isexerted in an opposite direction from that exerted during the opening ofthe door, thereby sliding the door in the reverse direction to itsclosed position. The base 23 is provided with a recess or pocket 36adapted to receive the lower end of the arcuate shaped member 30. andthis pocket is filled with sand or other suitable material to eliminatenoise which would otherwise result from the drop of the arcuate shapedmember 30 to normal position. lit will be manifest that by reason ofthis construction naaaeoa opening in the floor A, which serves to limitthe return movement of the block 19, and also provides for a properfit'between these parts. The block also has one of its sides inclined asat 38 to provide a clearance for the movement of the arm 22, as well asto permit the rod 20 to be arranged as far as possible toward theadjacent end of the arm 22, with the saving of space, and also allowingthe arm to have a maximum degree of leverage to operate the door with avery slight depression of the platform 19, It might here be stated thatin constructing the wall B means should be provided to permit the doorsto be quickly and easily removed or positioned in place as the occasionmayrequire.

It is believed that from the foregoin description the nature andadvantages 0% the invention will be readily apparent without requiringa'more extended explanation and therefore the same has been omitted.

What is claimed is y 1. A door operating means comprising in combinationwith a sliding door, a. drum mounted for rotation, a cable connectedwith the door and trained over the drum for opening the door uponrotation of the drum in one direction and closing the door'upon reverserotation of said drum, a movable member normally lying flush with thesurface and adapted to be depressed when Weight is brought to bearthereon, a horizontally disposed rod pivoted beneath said member forvertical swinging movement,

combination with a sliding door, a drummounted for rotation, a cableconnected with the door and trained over the drum whereby said door isopened upon rotation of the drum in one direction and closed uponreverse rotation of said drum, a movable member operating through anopening in the floor or surface and adapted to be depressed when weightis brought to bear thereon, a horizontally disposed pivot rod arrangedbeneath the member and connected therewith to be moved about its pivotwhen said member is depressed, a plurality of spaced transverse pinsforming part of said drum, an

arcuate shaped rack bar carried by one end of the rod and cooperatinwith said pins to rotate the drum when t 0 member is depressed in adirection to open the door, a

Weight carried by the drum for reversing the movement of the latter andreturning 10 the same and the aforementioned parts to In testimonywhereof I afl x my signature 15 in presence of two witnesses.

JAY GOULD WATTS. Witnesses R. L. RHons, W. R. Powrms.

